The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

Page 171

Leota in the fall of 1873. He took an active part in the county seat fight as a Leota man. When Frank Williams resigned the office of county Treasurer in 1874 Mr. Morrison was appointed to fill the vacancy; in 1875 he was elected to the same office, defeating C. Decker by vote of ninety-five to eighty-two. I n politic he was always a democrat.

Five children were born to them, their eldest, Rila Delbert, was born September 10, 1860, he was married to Mary F. Ellis March 18, 1878; they have had four children. Mrs. Morrison died June 7, 1893. Mr. Morrison has since married Ada M. Anderson and is in the mercantile business in Oronoque at this time.

Leora J. Morrison, eldest daughter of Alexander Morrison, was born in 1862. She was married to John T. Earle June 23, 1877; two children were born to them, both girls. After leaving here Earle took to drink, which caused domestic trouble, and finally in 1890 they separated. They both live in Atchison at this time.

When the competeing (sic) town was started it was called Weston, but when they asked to have a postoffice established the department declined to call it Weston; so late in the fall of 1874 a meeting was called to decide on a name. Morrison said he would give an oyster supper to the town company for the privilege of naming the future metropolis; this was promptly assented to, so he named it Leota after his daughter.

Mr. Morrison's second son, Homer Edward, learned the harness maker's trade after leaving here. He died at Evansville, Indiana, in December, 1892. His second daughter, Maggie Eveline, is married and is now living in the state of Washington. Charley Montroville, his youngest son, lives at home with his parents.

During Mr. Morrison's residence here he kept the hotel in Leota; this hotel was kept in the building that is now occupied by Newt Cope as a residence. He left here in 1884 and lived for some years in Atchison, but is now living at St. Joseph, Missouri, and is working at his trade, painting.

Arva O. Sproul was born in Doniphan county, Kansas, December 21, 1859. After receiving a common school education he moved to Norton county with his parents in the fall of 1878. His father, Frank Sproul, built a large frame house on his homestead late that fall, which is located about four miles northeast of Edmond, it being the first frame building erected in Sand Creek township. Arva was too young to take a homestead at that time and lived with his parents until Aug. 28, 1881, when he married Clara D. Joseph. She was formerly from Floyd county, Iowa; her father, Danial Joseph, located on Sand Creek in the spring of 1879, he is now living at Rockwell, northwest of Norton, her mother is now postmistress of that place. They have had four children born to them, all girls. He took a homestead in Sand Creek township in the fall of 1881, after which he bought a timber claim joining it. After proving up and selling the former he moved on the timber claim, which is one of the most practicaly (sic) improved farms in that part of the county. In connection with farming and stock raising he is in the plant business; irrigating the hot beds from a well with wind mill power, and is prepared to raise vegetable plants in sufficient quantities to supply northwestern Kansas. He calls his farm the Sand Creek Vegetable Plant and Stock Farm. He has, since coming to Norton county, resided continuously in Sand Creek township, and regardless of the drawbacks and hardships incident to frontier life was never discouraged, and he may be counted as one of our most successful farmers.

James William Vining was born at

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